UK London Heathrow Airport Shut Down Higlights: Heathrow Airport announced on Friday night that it is restarting flights after a power outage took place there that had resulted in a complete shutdown of one of the world’s busiest airports. A fire at an electrical substation caused a major power outage at Heathrow Airport on Friday, forcing Europe’s busiest hub to shut down for nearly 18 hours. The disruption led to widespread flight cancellations, rerouting challenges, and left approximately 200,000 passengers stranded.
The blaze broke out just before midnight on Thursday at a substation 3.2 km from the airport and took firefighters around seven hours to control. Authorities found no signs of foul play, and the London Fire Brigade stated that the investigation would focus on the substation’s electrical distribution equipment.
The outage affected not only Heathrow but also thousands of nearby homes. At least 1,350 flights were impacted, according to FlightRadar24, with disruptions expected to continue for several days as airlines work to rearrange schedules and reposition aircraft and crews.
West London residents reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by a fireball and thick smoke, as the blaze tore through the substation. At the time of the closure, approximately 120 flights were already in the air. Some were forced to turn back, while others were diverted to Gatwick Airport, Charles de Gaulle near Paris, or Shannon Airport in Ireland, according to flight tracking data.
London Heathrow Airport Shut Down Highlights: Follow Live Coverage on UK London's Heathrow Airport Shut Down, Power Outage
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Power fully restored at Heathrow and nearby areas, says National Grid
As per latest report by Reuters, National Grid has confirmed that electricity supply has been restored to all the customers by the North Hyde substation, including Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: It's open and fully operational, says Heathrow Airport
London’s Heathrow Airport announced on Saturday that it is fully operational again after a major power outage caused by of fire on Friday. The incident has resulted in temporary shutdown of the services at Europe’s busiest Airport.
The international travel industry faced huge hurdles on Saturday at the London’s Heathrow Airport. As passengers rushed to find out alternative flights and accommodation. Hotels were also fully packed. Meanwhile, airlines are struggling to reposition aircraft and crew members across the world in restoring the services.
The airport was to handle 1,351 flights on Friday and was scheduled to fly 291,000 passengers but plans were diverted to other airports in Europe and Britain, according to Reuters.
On Friday night, Heathrow Airport confirmed the resumption of flights following a power outage that had led to a temporary shutdown of one of the world's busiest travel hubs. The Airport authorities noted that it is prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft and is now able to "safely restart flights." The Airport added that it hopes to run a full operation on March 22 and offered apologies for the inconvenience caused.
"Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. We're now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft. Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so."
Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. We’re now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft. Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/fhUGiXCh6B
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Fire & Power Outage Impact
The fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow caused widespread blackouts, affecting 67,000 customers and forcing 150 residents to evacuate. Witnesses described seeing bright flashes and hearing sirens as the London Fire Brigade deployed 70 firefighters to contain the blaze.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Government Response and Extended Disruptions
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson, Tom Wells, acknowledged the need for a thorough investigation to prevent future large-scale disruptions. Though Heathrow initially aimed to reopen by midnight Friday, significant disruptions are expected in the coming days. Aviation consultant Anita Mendiratta noted that resuming normal operations will take time, as airlines must reposition planes, crews, and cargo.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Emergency Power Failed to Sustain Operations
Heathrow's emergency backup power functioned as intended but was insufficient to keep the airport fully operational. CEO Thomas Woldbye defended the airport’s contingency planning, calling the incident “unprecedented.” However, critics argue that the UK’s national infrastructure lacks resilience against such disruptions. Alan Mendoza of the Henry Jackson Society warned that Britain is not adequately prepared for similar crises in the future.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Flight Chaos: Cancellations & Diversions
Many flights were canceled, turned back mid-air, or rerouted to alternative destinations. Passenger Mark Doherty, whose flight from JFK to Heathrow had to return to New York, expressed frustration over what he saw as the UK’s lack of a backup plan. Other travelers, like Andrea Sri’s family heading to Dallas, were left in limbo after being informed their delayed flight would not depart. Airlines scrambled to find solutions—Qantas rerouted flights from Australia to Paris, arranging onward travel via bus and train to London.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: No Foul Play Suspected
Authorities are still determining the cause of the blaze, but Metropolitan Police have stated that counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation due to their expertise in assessing critical infrastructure incidents. Initial assessments indicate no signs of foul play.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: A timeline of how the crisis unfolded
23:23 GMT (Yesterday): Emergency services responded to a fire on Nestles Avenue, Hayes.
04:30 GMT: Heathrow Airport announced closure until 23:59 GMT due to a "significant power outage" caused by the fire.
06:28 GMT: Fire was brought under control. Thousands experienced power cuts, and around 150 residents were evacuated.
Midday: Met Police ruled out foul play, though Counter Terrorism Command continued its investigation.
14:30 GMT: Power was restored to Terminal 4. National Grid confirmed an "interim solution" for local customers and the airport.
16:00 GMT: Heathrow announced it could "safely restart flights," aiming for full operation the next day.
17:00 GMT: British Airways confirmed clearance for eight long-haul flights to depart.
18:00 GMT: The first flight landed since the fire broke out.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Emergency backup failed to keep airport running, PM’s office calls for answers
Heathrow stated that its backup power supply functioned as intended during the emergency but was insufficient to sustain full airport operations, leaving no option but to shut down for most of the day. Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye dismissed concerns about inadequate contingency plans, calling the incident “unprecedented.”
Meanwhile, Tom Wells, spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasised the need for a thorough investigation to prevent such large-scale disruptions in the future.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Substation fire strands nearly 2 lakh passengers
A fire at the North Hyde substation in West London disrupted power supply to Heathrow Airport for 18 hours on Friday, leading to widespread flight cancellations, rerouting issues, and stranding nearly 200,000 passengers.
Heathrow relies on electricity from three substations, each equipped with a backup transformer. However, in the case of the North Hyde substation, the backup transformer was also damaged in the fire, exacerbating the outage.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: London's Heathrow slowly resumes flights
A fire at an electrical substation caused a major power outage at Heathrow Airport on Friday, forcing Europe's busiest hub to shut down for nearly 18 hours. The disruption led to widespread flight cancellations, rerouting issues, and left approximately 200,000 passengers stranded.
The blaze broke out just before midnight on Thursday at a substation 3.2 km from the airport and took firefighters about seven hours to contain. Authorities found no signs of foul play, and the London Fire Brigade will focus its investigation on the substation’s electrical distribution equipment.
The outage impacted thousands of homes in the area and disrupted at least 1,350 flights, according to FlightRadar24. The effects are expected to linger for several days as airlines work to reschedule flights and reposition aircraft and crews.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Airline association slams Heathrow closure as 'planning failure'
The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticised Heathrow Airport’s shutdown, calling it “yet another case of Heathrow letting down both travelers and airlines”.
“How is it that critical infrastructure—of national and global importance—is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative. If that is the case—as it seems—then it is a clear planning failure by the airport,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh, former CEO of British Airways, said in a statement Friday, CNN World reported.
IATA, which represents around 340 airlines responsible for over 80% of global air traffic, is pushing for accountability.
“We must find a fairer allocation of passenger care costs than airlines alone picking up the tab when infrastructure fails. Until that happens, Heathrow has very little incentive to improve,” Walsh added.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: What is the current condition at Heathrow?
Heathrow Airport’s Terminals 2 and 4, along with 5,000 nearby homes, remain without power Friday afternoon following a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation, according to the London Fire Brigade.
“Disruption is expected to continue, and we urge people to avoid the area where possible,” Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said in an update, NBC reported.
At its peak, the outage affected around 67,000 homes, though power has since been restored to most.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: British Airways cleared to operate 8 flights tonight
British Airways has been cleared to operate eight long-haul flights from Heathrow Airport tonight after a fire at a nearby substation disrupted operations.
Updated statement from British Airways following the disruption at London Heathrow Airport on 21 March pic.twitter.com/ApBSFezdoC
— British Airways (@British_Airways) March 21, 2025
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Heathrow to resume full flight ops from Saturday
London’s Heathrow Airport plans to restart some flights on Friday, with full operations expected by Saturday, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a major power outage. The shutdown of Europe’s busiest airport left thousands of passengers stranded and disrupted travel across the globe.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: History of Heathrow airport
- Heathrow Airport gets its name from the village of Heathrow, which once stood where Terminal 3 is now located.
- It began operations in 1946 as a tented village, serving 18 destinations with a few airlines making around 9,000 flights annually.
- The airport's first departure was on New Year's Day in 1946, with a flight to Buenos Aires via Lisbon, establishing Britain’s first air link with South America.
- In 1955, Heathrow opened its first terminal for short-haul flights. Originally named the Europa Building, it is now known as Terminal 2.
- Terminal 1 was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth in 1969 and remained in service until its closure in June 2015. Terminal 3 opened in 1961, followed by Terminal 4 in 1986.
- Terminal 5, the newest addition, was opened in 2008. Its construction faced the longest public inquiry in British planning history, lasting nearly four years.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: A look at some interesting facts about Heathrow airport
Here are some facts about the Heathrow airport:
- Heathrow Airport connects to over 230 destinations across nearly 90 countries
- It serves as a hub for 90 airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa
- In February 2025, 5.7 million passengers traveled through Heathrow, marking its busiest February ever. Over the past year, from March 2024 to February 2025, passenger numbers reached 84.1 million
- The airport has two main runways: the northern runway is 3,902 meters long, while the southern runway measures 3,658 meters
- Heathrow plans to submit its proposal for a third runway this summer, following the British government’s approval of the project to boost trade and economic growth
- Operating at 99% capacity, Heathrow risks falling behind its European competitors, with Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport having four runways each, and Amsterdam Schiphol operating with six
- Heathrow Airport Holdings manages the airport, with key stakeholders including Ardian, the Qatar Investment Fund, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
- Approximately 475,000 aircraft movements occur annually at Heathrow
- New York remains the most popular destination for Heathrow travelers
- With over 90,000 employees, Heathrow stands as the UK’s largest single-site employer
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Too early to speculate on cause of fire, says UK PM's spokesman
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Friday that it was premature to speculate on the cause of the fire that disrupted power at Heathrow Airport, leaving passengers stranded globally.
"It's too early to say what has caused fire, and I would caution you against speculating, there'll be a time for a thorough investigation," the spokesman told reporters.
"There are questions to answer, we expect those questions to be answered, but our priority right now is on this incident being appropriately dealt with. There is a fire still burning," he added.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: 8 rescue flights launched for passengers
Ryanair has launched eight rescue flights for the affected passengers at the Heathrow airport. The airline posted on X and said it will run 2 Dublin to Stansted flights and 2 Stansted to Dublin flights on Friday. The airline will also run 4 flights to and fro Dublin
"Available from 9.30AM at http://Ryanair.com," the airline posted.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Which heathrow flight will be the last to find alternate airport?
According to Flightradar24, the BA8 flight from Tokyo to London will be the last flight to find an alternate airport, instead of landing at Heathrow.
Based on current diversions, it appears #ba8 will be the last Heathrow flight to find an alternate airport. https://t.co/4R719iEdpJ pic.twitter.com/iaO496tXDc
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Many flights diverted to Manchester Airport
Flights are being redirected across Europe, including five flights that have been diverted to Manchester Airport, which is about 200 miles northwest of London. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said they don’t expect more flight diversions, and the Heathrow closure is not affecting flights to other destinations, reported CNN.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: How many flights has Air France cancelled?
Air France has canceled eight flights to and from Heathrow, but flights to other UK airports are running as usual.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Virgin Atlantic's advisory for passengers
Virgin Atlantic is also advising passengers not to go to London Heathrow today if they are traveling to or from the airport. The airline's website stated that it is providing flexible options to help customers adjust their travel plans.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Ryanair to run 8 rescue flights for stranded passengers
Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, announced it will run eight "rescue flights" for passengers who were impacted by the Heathrow closure. The flights will run between London Stansted Airport and Dublin, with four flights on Friday and another four on Saturday, according to Ryanair’s social media posts.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: UK Transport Secretary urges people not to go to heathrow
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has addressed the Heathrow closure, advising passengers not to go to the airport and instead, get in touch with the airlines, the Guardian reportes. She mentioned that she is getting updates on the rapidly changing situation at Heathrow and expressed gratitude to the emergency services handling the fire and to National Grid for working on restoring power to both the airport and nearby homes.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Foul play ruled out by UK Energy Minister
Speaking to the LBC Radio, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband ruled out any foul play in the fire that led to shutting down of London's Heathrow airport. "There is no indication of foul play," he said, reported the Guardian.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Rail services impacted
The power outage that led to the temporary shut down of London' Heathrow airport, also affected the rail services, reported CNN. Heathrow Express, which connects the airport to Paddington station in London, announced that there are no services running in either direction.
Heathrow Airport shut down Live Updates: Plane stuck on Boston airport tarmac for over 3 hours, says CNN report
According to a CNN report, a passenger revealed that a plane was stuck at the tarmac of Boston airport for over 3 hours. A Chinese student from the US told CNN that she and other passengers on a London-bound flight were stuck on the runway at Boston Logan International Airport for three and a half hours on Thursday night after hearing about a fire near Heathrow Airport. Their flight was supposed to leave at 11 p.m. ET.